NCAA rules committee approves changes to block/charge

Jun. 24, 2013
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Syracuse guard Brandon Triche (20) is called for an offensive foul against Michigan forward Jordan Morgan (52) in the second half of the semifinals during the 2013 NCAA men's Final Four at the Georgia Dome. / Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

by Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY Sports

by Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY Sports

Once again, the NCAA hopes to clear up the ever-confusing block/charge rule in men's basketball

On a conference call Monday, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved a change to how the rule will be called, in addition to rule changes involving monitor reviews and elbow swings.

Moving forward, the NCAA says "a defensive player is not permitted to move into the path of an offensive player once he has started his upward motion with the ball to attempt a field goal or pass." If the defensive player is not in legal guarding position by this time, it should be called a blocking foul.

The old rule stated that the defender had to be in legal guarding position by the time the offensive player lifted off the floor.

The men's basketball rules committee believe the new block/charge rule will allow for more offensive freedom, provide clarity for officials in making this difficult call and enhance the balance between offense and defense.

When a defensive player continually jabs by extending his arm(s) and placing a hand or forearm on the opponent;

When a player uses an arm bar to impede the progress of an opponent.

Other rule changes apply to both men's and women's basketball, affecting monitor reviews and elbow reviews. During the last two minutes of regulation and overtime, officials can now review shot clock violations as well as who caused the ball to go out of bounds on a deflection involving two or more players.

If officials are not sure if a basket was a 2- or 3-pointer, they can signal to the scorer's table to review it on the next media timeout (something the Big Ten did during conference play last season). In the last four minutes of the game and during overtime, officials will check the monitor immediately to determine how many points to award for the field goal.

Officials can also use monitors to determine which player committed a foul after a call has been made. Previously, they could also look at who the free-throw shooter should be.